inundate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'inundate' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to overwhelm or flood with a large amount of something. Here is an example of how the word can be used in a sentence: "The company's email server was inundated with hundreds of complaints from angry customers after their latest product launch failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The second is where potential coastal flooding may inundate New York reprised as today's Daily chart.

The Economist

If, say, sea levels were to rise, which they did by almost 20cm in the last century, they could inundate coastal cities and destroy large amounts of productive capital and land (to say nothing of damage to life and limb).

The Economist

The irrigation gains they produce may be more than offset by the loss of the fertile land they inundate.

The Economist

Increased rain, violent storms and rising sea-levels could inundate low-lying areas around San Francisco and Seattle, or burst the levees that protect swathes of Sacramento and California's Central Valley from the Sacramento and San Joaquin river delta.Houston, the centre of America's petrochemical industry, and Norfolk, Virginia, home to its largest naval base, could also be in trouble.

The Economist

If that happened again it would displace a billion people and inundate most of the world's biggest cities, including New York, London and Mumbai.

The Economist

Floods regularly inundate the camp, and local hostility to the incomers often leads to violence.

The Economist

It argues that the firms "orchestrated a scheme to inundate the courts with hundreds of thousands of asbestos cases".Asbestos litigation in Britain is unlikely ever to reach American proportions.

The Economist

In America and China, the government has long had the right to breach dykes and periodically inundate occupied land to relieve extreme flooding.

The Economist

In Japan the interruption to electricity supply means that output has been affected even in areas the tsunami did not directly inundate.

The Economist

It is now being turned back into floodplain to absorb floodwaters that might otherwise inundate cities upstream.

The Economist

A large earthquake could disrupt the state's water supply and inundate the delta itself.The best answer, says Ellen Hanak, a water expert at the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, is to build either a canal or a tunnel around the delta.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inundate", consider whether a more specific verb like "flood", "overwhelm", or "deluge" would better convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "inundate" in passive constructions where the subject is unclear or weak. For example, instead of "The city was inundated by rain," try "Heavy rain inundated the city" for a more direct and impactful sentence.

Linguistic Context

The verb "inundate" primarily functions to describe the act of covering something with a large amount of water or overwhelming it with a great quantity of something else. Ludwig provides examples showing its usage in contexts ranging from physical flooding to being overwhelmed with information or requests. It’s a versatile verb for illustrating situations where something is excessively filled or burdened.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Inundate" is a versatile verb that means to cover with a large amount of water or to overwhelm. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used. The examples illustrate its application in various contexts, from describing floods to depicting situations of being overwhelmed. It maintains a neutral to formal tone, making it appropriate for both journalistic and academic writing. While alternatives like "flood", "overwhelm", and "deluge" exist, "inundate" provides a specific nuance of being excessively filled or burdened. Be mindful of using it in active constructions for clearer and more impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overwhelm

Focuses on the emotional or cognitive impact of being flooded, rather than the physical act.

flood

Implies a physical covering with water or other liquid.

deluge

Similar to flood, but often used metaphorically for a large quantity of something.

submerge

Suggests complete covering or immersion in a liquid.

engulf

Implies a surrounding and enveloping action, often with negative connotations.

swamp

Similar to overwhelm, suggesting being bogged down or unable to cope.

overrun

Suggests being invaded or taken over by a large quantity.

saturate

Suggests a thorough soaking or filling to capacity.

overpower

Implies a force exceeding the ability to resist.

glut

Indicates an excessive supply or abundance.

FAQs

How to use "inundate" in a sentence?

"Inundate" can be used to describe flooding with water or being overwhelmed with something. For example, "The heavy rain "inundated" the town", or "The office was "inundated" with complaints".

What can I say instead of "inundate"?

You can use alternatives like "overwhelm", "flood", or "deluge", depending on the context.

Is "inundate" formal or informal?

"Inundate" is generally considered a neutral to formal word, suitable for both news reporting and academic writing. It's more formal than slang but less technical than specialized jargon.

What's the difference between "inundate" and "submerge"?

"Submerge" implies complete covering or immersion in a liquid, while "inundate" can also mean to overwhelm with a large quantity of something, not necessarily liquid.